"Harewood Pair" by Les McLean

We are delighted to see that a much valued associate of Yorkshire Red Kites, Stephen Martin has been recognised for his sterling efforts in making North Cave Wetlands a top venue for birders in East Yorkshire. Please look on our 'Latest News' page to see this wonderful achievement.

We're almost through the 2015 Red Kite breeding season – the sixteenth since releases began at Harewood in 1999. Most of this year's young are already on the wing. Although their early flights will be just a few metres close to the nest, it is amazing how quickly they gain confidence and start flying strongly in the open around the nest site – instinctively able to find their way back to the nest which is often used as a food platform.

Plumage of Red Kites seen at this time of year can vary enormously with some looking very 'tatty'. These will be adult birds going into their annual moult, usually starting with their secondary wing feathers and central tail feathers. Conversely, birds in pristine condition are likely to be this year's juveniles which by this stage are virtually the same size as their parents.

Whilst we are still collating the breeding figures, indications are that, despite the poor weather early in the season and the more recent high winds, it has been a successful year for Yorkshire kites.

Please keep sending sightings to our 'Contact us'section. This is invaluable to our work, but if there's a delay in us responding it's because we're busy out 'in the field'.

Click to view the YRK Gallery - Our thanks to all the contributors

If you are fortunate enough to know of any Red Kite activity, please use our ‘Contact Us’page to let us know. It is possible that we may not already be aware of it. We are particularly interested to hear if you have not seen kites in that area previously. Such information assists us in our monitoring work and would be treated confidentially.

Latest News

Seen a Red Kite?

If there's a Red Kite new to your area of Yorkshire then CLICK HERE and please let us know.

Reports of Red Kite sightings received from the general public are always welcome. They help us keep track of the expanding population, and a number of new breeding pairs having been located through such records.

Got a good photo?

If you've got a good/unusual photograph that you've taken of a Red Kite and would like to have it considered for display in our Gallery then please CLICK HERE and upload it to us,

Frequently Asked

How can I tell the difference between an adult and a juvenile Red Kite?

Got a good video?

Acknowledgements

Yorkshire Red Kites much appreciates the support now being provided by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. This will enable monitoring of the progress of our expanding Red Kite population to continue. We are also grateful for the continuing support of Harewood Estate and Yorkshire Water - two of the original partnership organisations. The assistance of landowners and their representatives, gamekeepers and farmers over a wide area who have Red Kites on their land is readily acknowledged, as is the care provided for sick and injured birds by several veterinary practices, rehabilitation centres, the staff of Harewood Bird Garden and the RSPCA. The Yorkshire Red Kite logo has been reproduced by kind permission of Mike Ashforth.